The Royal Windsor Horse Show Fancy Dress 2024

Entering the Royal Windsor Horse Show RDA Fancy Dress Class is the most wonderful experience for our Volunteers and Participants, giving them the chance to take part in such a huge international event in the beautiful grounds of Windsor Castle and to experience something other than their usual riding therapy sessions.

Royal Windsor Horse Show was first staged in 1943 to help raise funds for the War effort. It has continued to run every year since and is now the only show in the UK to host international competitions in Show Jumping, Dressage, Driving and Endurance.

I am not sure how long the RDA Fancy Dress Class has been going, but certianly more than 20 years! The Class is very kindly sponsored by The Lions Club of Windsor and each group that enters is given £150.00 towards the costs of competing.

Each year there is a theme for the fancy dress, and this year it was ‘Films”, so we decided to go as ‘My Fair Lady’ and specifically the scene from Ascot Races, which tied in very nicely with Lambourn! We took two horses, Harley and Millie and two participants, Alex and Aaron. Our Volunteers dressed up as the glamorous spectators, Henry Higgins and Eliza, before and after her transformation!

The Class was held in the afternoon on Friday the 3^rd of May, after a week of very mixed weather. Luckily the rain stopped just in time, although the ground remained rather soggy, so high heels were exchanged for not so glamorous sensible footwear and wellies, hidden under the long dresses and skirts!

We were delighted to be placed second in the Class receiving a beautiful big blue rosette, which will be treasured. The Horse Rangers Association were placed first, Wellow RDA third and Gaddesdon Place fourth. There was also an entry from Brook Cottage Farm RDA, who were placed first as the only driving entry!

A huge thank you to everyone who helped with the preparations and took part on the day to make it happen. Congratulations!